Hydraulic and pneumatic drain and pipe cleaner



p 1936- G. M. GOULD 2,052,563

HYDRAULIC AND PNEUMATIC DRAIN AND PIPE CLEANER Filed April 11, 1935 PATENT OFFICE 2,052,583 I HYDRAULIC sun rnaum'no pains AND ma 01mm George-M, Gould, Brooklyn, N. x., asslgnor to George E. Townsend, Brooklyn, N. 1!.

Application April 11, 1935, Serial No. 15,921

, 'lClaims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in hydraulic and pneumatic drain and pipe cleaners.-

The primary object of the invention isto pro- 5 vide a hydraulic and pneumatic drain and pipe cleaner wherein a pressure tank for holding fluid and air under compression has a pneumatic pump device externally associated therewith for the forcing of air under pressure into the tank whereby fluid and air under pressure is discharged from the tank under control of an operator for causing fluid and air under pressure to flow through a 'water closet drain, pipe or the like for clearing the latter of obstructions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined hydraulic and pneumatic pipe cleaner that'may be used as a hydraulic ram or as an air gun for the cleaning of pipes and the like.

A still further and important object .of the invention is to provide a hydraulic and pneumatic drain and pipe cleaner wherein an air pump isexternally associated with a fluid tank with all of the parts of the air'pump readily accessible for repair or the like.

With the-above and other objects in view that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown-in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing:--

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section of a hydraulic and pneumatic drain and pipe cleaner constructed in accordance with the positioning of. the air pump relative to the fluid cylinder;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view; Figure 3 is a top plan view.

drawing, there is illustrated a hydraulic and pneumatic drain and pipe cleaner comprising upper and lower headers 5 and'B respectively with a fluid tank or cylinder 1 interposed between the headers 5 and 8 with the parts secured together" in any convenientmanner. A ring member 8 projects laterally of the upper header 5 in the plane thereof and is vertically aligned with a tubular casing 9 projecting laterally oi the lower header 6, an air pump cylinder it having its lower end seated in the casing 9 while the upper end of the air pump cylinder i extends through the ring 8 for the reception of a closure cap H and 55 carrying an upstanding tubular boss l2. Vent present invention, showing the lateral external I hydraulic pressure in'the fluid cylinder I.

Referring more-in detail to the accompanying p nings it are formed in the air pump cylinder Ill above thesupporting ring 8 and beneath the cap I l. The air pump cylinder 10 forms a closure for the upper end of the casing 9 and the lower end of said casing is closed by a removable drain plug it having threaded engagement therewith that-- permits access to the pump mechanism and other devices in the casing 9.

The pump mechanism includes a gasket type of piston l5 having wiping engagement with the inner face of the air pump cylinder III, the piston gasket li'being secured to the lower end of the pump rod l6 thatprojects through the cap II and tubular boss I: at the upper end of the pump cylinder with an operating handle or knob I! on 1 the upper end thereof. A shock absorbing spring I8 is fixed to the piston rod l6 adjacent its lower end to limit and cushion upward movement of the piston l5.

As shown in Figure 1, a passageway l9 forms communication between the casing 9 the lower end of the fluid cylinder I and said casing 9 has a check valve anchored therein above the passageway l9 and below the air pump piston I 5, the check valve 20 opening in a downward direction to permit the flow of air from the pump cylinder I 0 under influence oi the piston l5 into the fluid cylinder 1 and saidcheck valve closing in anqupward direction under influence of hy-' draulic and pneumatic pressure in the cylinder I. The interior of the casing 9 below the check valve 20 constitutes an air pocket 9a and the restricted passage I9 between the fluid cylinder 1 and pocket 9a permits compression of air in the pocket and excludes the admission of fluid to the pocket. The check valve 20 is moved towards its seat by air pressure-in the pocket and as stated, the air in the pocket is held under compression by A valve casing 2| projects laterally of and depends irom the lower header 6 diametrically opposite the casing 8 and is in communication with the fluid cylinder 1 by means of the y 22. ,A removable valve seat 23 is secured in the lower end of the valve casing 2| and is adapted to be engaged by a valve 24 carried by the lower end of a valve rod 25, the valve 24 being normally retained on its seat 23 by means of the coil spring 28 surrounding the valve rod between the head of the valvecasing and valve 24. The valve rod 25 has a liquid and air-tight bearing 21 in its pas sage through the upper end of the valve casing ill and extending longitudinally of the fluid.cylinder 'l passes through a bearing 28 carrledby the upper header 5 the 55 trigger ll pivoted to the handle as at 3| has the upper end or the valve. rod 25 pivotally attached theretoas at 32. It will therefore be seen from an inspection of Figure 1 that upon elevation of the free end of the trigger 30, the valve'rod 25 is raised and the valve removed from its seat 23.

Fittings 0! various types may be associated with the lower end of the valve seat 23 and as shown in Figure 1, a pipe section 33 has threaded engagement at one end with the valve seat and a conical plunger device 34 is carried by the other end of the pipe section 33, this device being especially serviceable for cleaning toilet drains and the like. A pressure gage is carried by the upper header 5 in communication with the fluid tank I and said header 5 has a filling opening therein closed by the screw plug 36.

From the above detailed description ot-the invention, it is believed that the construction and operation thereof will at once be apparent, it being noted that operation of the air pump forces air into the fluid cylinder 1 and the discharge of fluid and air under pressure when the cylinder 1 is controlled by the valve 24 operated by the lever or trigger 30. It will be understood that the device may operate solely as an air gun and to the exclusion of fluid. With the air pump device located exteriorly of the fluid cylinder 1, access thereto may be readily had for repair purposes or the like, and this arrangement is also true 01' the control valve 24 for the discharge. of

fluid under pressure and air from the fluid m.

inder I. While there is herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

, I claim:-

1. In a device or the class described, a pair of headers, a fluid cylinder 'and air pump cylinder with an air pump therein spaced from each other and anchored at their ends" in the headers, a check valve arrangement controlling communication between corresponding'hids of the cylinders and=a manually operable valve arrangement supported on the two headers exteriorly of the fluid cylinder to control the discharge from the fluid cylinder.

2. In a device of the class described, a pair of headers, a fluid cylinder and air pump cylinder with an air pump therein spaced from each other and anchored at their ends in the headers, a

check valve arrangement controlling communica,

tion between corresponding ends of the cylinders and a manually operable valve arrangement supported on the two headers exteriorly oi the mild cylinder to control the discharge from the fluid cylinderincluding a valve rod, a handle carried by the upper header and a trigger pivoted on the ders, a manually operable valve arrangement supported on the two headers exteriorly oi the fluid cylinder to control the discharge from the fluid cylinder, including a tensioned valve rod slidable through the two headers, and an operating trigger forthe valve rod at the upper end 5 and anchored at their ends in the headers, a check l0 1 valve arrangement controlling communication 1 between corresponding ends of the cylinders, a manually operable valve arrangement supported on the two headers exteriorly of the fluid-'cylinder to control the discharge from the fluid cylinder, including a tensioned valve "rod slidable through the two headers, an operating trigger for thevalve rod at the upper end thereof, and a pressure gage for the fluid cylinder carried by the upper header.

-5. In a device of the class described, a pair oi headers, a fluid cylinder and an air pump cylinder with an air pump therein arranged in parallelism between the headers, the lower header having an air pocket at the lower end of the air pump' cylinder in communication with the fluid cylinder, a check valve in the pocket constructed and arranged to permit the flow of air from the air cylinder into the fluid cylinder and adapted to be closed by air pressure in the pocket under influence of hydraulic pressure in the fluid cylinder and-a manually operable valve located exteriorly of the fluid cylinder to control the discharge from the fluid cylinder.

6. In a device of the class described, a pair of headers, a fluid cylinder and an air pump cylin der with an air pump therein arranged in parallelism between the headers andanchored at their ends thereto, the lower header having a pocket therein at the lower end of the air pump cylinder laterally of the fluid cylinder and in communication with the latter, a check valve in the pocket operative to permit the flow of air from the air pump cylinder into the fluid cylinder and closing in a direction to prevent the entrance of fluid into the air pump cylinder, an oiitlet valve for the fluid cylinder carried by the lower header laterally of the fluid cylinder and a manually operable rod for the outlet valve exteriorly oi the flui cylinder, and parallel therewith.

I; In adevice of the class described, a pair of headers, a fluid cylinder and an air pump cylinder with an air pump therein arranged in parallelism between the headers and anchored at their ends thereto, the lower header having a pocket therein at the lower end of the air pump cylinder laterally of the fluid cylinder and in communication with the latter, a check valve in the pocket operative to permit the flow of air from the air pump cylinder into the fluid cylinder and closing in a direction to prevent the entrance of fluid into the, air pump cylinder, an outlet valve for the fluid cylinder carried by the lower header laterally of the fluid cylinder and a manually operable rod for the outlet valve exteriorly of the fluid cylinder and parallel therewith, a handle carried by the upper header and 'a lever pivoted on the handle and pivoted to the upper end of the rod for the operation oi-the latter.

Gnome t. com-n. 

